Tongs



Dec. 21 1926. 1,611,808

W. L. BESSOLO TONGS Filed August 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W "MM Dec. 21 1926. 1,611,808

W. BESSOLO TONGS Filed August 22, 1924 2 Sheefcs-Sheet i? Mrtwfor /0 yVl/fiam A. Basso/0 or lever 10, two 0 to the inner end of the handle, a rack mem- Patented Dec. 21, 1926'.

PATENT. OFFICE.

'wILLIAm'LonIs Bnssoto, or CLEARWATER, CALIFORNIA.

TONGS.

Application filed August 22, 1924 Serial No. 733,475.

This invention relates to tongs and it is an object of theinvention to provide a simple, effective, improved tool of this character.-

It is an object of this invention to provide tongs which are quick and conven ent to operate.

Another object of this invention is to provide tongs which are simple, inexpensive and durable of construction.-

It is a further object of this invention to provide tongs which are effective and reliable in gripping objects such as casings, pipes, tubings, e

The various objects and features of this invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred-form of the invention throughout which description reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a face or plan view of tongs embodying the present invention showing the tool closed or in operating position.

, Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the tool open.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the tool with one of'the cheek plates re moved. I I

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view take at the imier end of the handle-and Fig. 5 is'a detailed sectional view of the outer part of the links showing the latch.

provided for connecting the links. \I

The tongs com rise generally a handle heek plates 11, connected ber 12, carried by the'cheek lates in 00- operative relation with the ban le, two jaws or link members 13 and 14', connected with the cheek platesand rack member respectively, and a latch 15 for connecting the outer or free ends of the links 13 and 14.

The lever IO-may be of the general design and construction common to handles em:

located near the inner end of the lever 10 v and are preferably formed directly in or as a part of the lever 10.

The cheek plates 11 are .posite sides of the lever 10 and are pivotally arranged at op the cheek plates. The link 14 ispivotally connected with thelever by aspivot pin 17 The pin 17 connects the cheek plates with the handles at the center or axis about which the teeth 16 are formed. The check .plates extend a considerable distance beyond the end of the handle the outer portions A of the cheek plates eing adapted to engage the casing or other object handled. by the tool. In ractice it is preferredto curve the portions of thecheekplates substantially as I have shown in the drawings.

The rack member 12 slidedly fits between the check plates 11 immediately beyond the end of the lever and is slidedly pivotally connected with the cheek plates. In the particular 'form of construction illustrated in the drawings the rack member is con nected with the cheek plates by a pivot pin 19, which is carried between the cheekplates and extends through an opening or slot 2Q .in the rack member. The pin is tightly carried by the plates and fits freely through the slots. The rack member 12 is provided with a series of teeth 21 adapted to mesh with the teeth-16 The connection between. the rack member and cheek plates is such as to hold the rack member in posi tion with its teeth 21 in mesh with the teeth plq on the handle. Inpractice the series of teeth 21 is curved substantially as shown in the drawings, and the slot 20 in the rack member is curved to correspond to or is parallel with the series of gear teeth so that the gear teeth 21 and 16 will remain in proper cooperative relation at all times. The relation iii the slot and gear teeth is clearly shownin the drawings.

The jaws or links 13- and 14 together with portionsA of the cheek plates and the rack member 12 are ad'apted'to encircle or extend around the casing to be-handled by the tool. The inner end of the link 13 is pivot-ally connected with the outer end portions of the cheek plates 11, that is, to the outermost parts of the portion" A of the cheek plates so' that its inner end is 'connected to the plates at a'point outward of or beyond the pin 19 In the particular construction illustrated in the drawings the link extends between the cheek plates and a pivot pin 25 extends between the cheek plates and through the link to connect'what I will term the inner end of the link with connected with the outermost part of-the rack member 12. I have shown the link 14 yokedto receive the rack member 12 and a pivot pin 26 connecting the yoked part of the link and the rack member.

The outer or free ends of the links 13 and 14 are adapted to be connected together around the object to be handled by the tool. Although the links may be connected in several different ways, I preferto connect them by a latch 15 carried by one of the links to cooperate with ratchet teeth 30-on the other link. In the drawings I have illustrated the latch Iii-mounted on a pivot pin 31, extending between lugs 32 provided on the link 13, and have shown a spring 33 in connection with the' latch normally yield: ingly holding or urging it closed. A plurality of ratchet teeth 30 are provided on the outer part of the link 14 to receive the head 34 of the latch 15. By providing a plurality of teeth 30 the links may be connected together in various positions so that the tool will handle casings of various sizes. The outer end ortion of the link 13 is yoked so that it sli edly receives the outer end portion of the link 14 thus allowing the links to lap together. i

In a preferred arrangement :I provide lugs or projections 40 on the inner arts of the links 13 and 14 to project into t e space occupied by the pipe or casing when the links are in an 0 en position, as illustrated in Fig. 2'. The ugs are proportioned and related so that they are engaged bi the easing when the tool is applied to t e casing and operate to close the links 13 and 14 to the position illustrated in Fig.1.]

In operating the tool it is applied to a casing, or like object, with the links 13 and 14 open as shcwn in Fig. 1. As the casin comes into position between the portions of the cheek plates and the rack member 12 it engages the projections 40 on the llnks causing the links to swing closed to the position shown in Fig. 1. With the links n the position illustrated in Fig. 1 the casing is completely encircled by the tool. As the links 13 and 14 are moved together the latch 15 automatically engages the ratchet teeth 30 to connect the links together. With the Ain tool thus applied to the casing the lever 10 is swung or actuated in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 1, which operation causes pivotal movement between the lever and the cheek plates and movementbetween the cheek plates and rack member so that the tool is tightened on the casing to firmly grip it.- Further movement of the .lever 10 will cause the casin to be carried. around with the tool. W en it is desired to release the tool from the casing-the lever 10 is swung back, that is, in the direction opposite to that indicated bi; the arrow 1g 1 so that the grip on t e caslng is released and the latch 15 can be freely opened. When the latch 15 is opened the tool can be easily removedfrom the casing.

. ;The connection between the rack member and check plates is an important feature of the tool as it allows the rack member and Having described only a typical preferred I form of my inventionI do not Wish to limit myself to the specific details hereinabove set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall Withinthe scope of the following claims:'

Having described my invention, Iclaim:

1. A tool of the character described in cluding, a lever provided at its inner end with teeth, a plate pivotally connected with the lever, a rack member carried by the plate in cooperative engagement with the teeth, and links adapted to engage around a casing, one link being connected with the plate and one being connected with the rack member.

a plate pivotally connected with the lever, a rack member, means connectin the rack member with the plate and guiding it in cooperativeengagement with the teeth, and links adapted to engage around a casing, one link being connected with the late and one being connected with saidmem er.

3. A tool of the character described including, a lever having teeth at its inner end, \a plate pivotally connected with the lever, a rack member, means slidably connecting the rack member with the plate so that it is in cooperative engagement with the teeth, and links adapted to engage around a casing, one link being connected with the late and one being connected with said mem er.

4. A tool of the character described in cluding, a lever having teeth at its inner end,

a plate pivotally connected with the lever, a member having a series of teeth and an opening parallel with theseries of teeth, a

pin extending fromthe plate into the opennected. with the plate, a link connected with the rack member, and means for releasably connecting the links together. f

point plates, a link pivetally connected with the link connected Y 6. A tool ofthe character described including, a lever having teeth at. its inner end, a plate pivotally rack member,

means slidably pivetally connecti the rack member'with the :plate at a cluding, a lever havin teeth at its inner end, cheek inner end portion of, the levennrack mem plates pivot y connected with the her arranged between the cheek plates, means slidablyconnectin the rack member and the cheek plates wit the rack member in co-operative engagement with the teeth, a link pivotally connected with the cheek imam connected with the vlever, a,

yond the inner end of the lever and Feki member, and a latch to connect the m v a 8. 'A tool of the character described including .a lever having teeth at its inner end, cheek p ates pivotally connected to the inner end portion of the lever, a .rack member arranged between the cheek plates beyond the end of the lever and in cooperative engag'ement with the teeth, a in extending between the plates and throng a slot in the rack member, alink having its inner end pivotally connected between the cheek plates at a point beyond said pin, a link having its inner end pivotally connected with-the rack member, a lurality ef'teeth at the outer end of one of t e links, and a latch at the'outer end of the other latch with the teeth. 4

In witness that I] claim the foregoing l have'hereunto subscribed my name this 6th day of Aug-1924,

WILnIAM Louis BESSOLO.

apted to cooperate 

